Middlebrooks (illness) is back in the lineup Thursday against the Royals, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports. With his bout with the flu similarly passing its course, Middlebrooks will return to his usual duties at the hot corner. Even with the promise of regular at-bats likely coming his way the rest of the season, it's hard to trust Middlebrooks as a fantasy option while his average remains well below the Mendoza Line.